Method of improving the accuracy of the temperature measurement of thermal/infrared array sensor

Abstract

An arrangement for sensing temperatures on a surface includes a thermal/infrared array sensor having a field of view. The thermal/infrared array sensor is positioned such that the surface is within the field of view. A benchmark object has a known temperature. The benchmark object is disposed within the field of view of the thermal/infrared array sensor. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the thermal/infrared array sensor and receives a signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor. The signal includes a temperature measurement of the surface and a temperature measurement of the benchmark object. A difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object is calculated. A temperature of the surface is calculated based on the temperature measurement of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arrangement for sensing temperatures on a surface, the arrangement comprising:
 a thermal/infrared array sensor having a field of view, the thermal/infrared array sensor being positioned such that the surface is within the field of view;   a benchmark object having a known temperature, the benchmark object being disposed within the field of view of the thermal/infrared array sensor; and   an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the thermal/infrared array sensor and configured to:
 receive a signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor, the signal including a temperature measurement of the surface and a temperature measurement of the benchmark object; 
 calculate a difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object; and 
 calculate a temperature of the surface based on the temperature measurement of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor includes a plurality of temperature measurements of the surface, each of the temperature measurements corresponding to a different, respective portion of the surface, the electronic processor being configured to calculate a respective temperature of each of the portions of the surface based on the temperature measurements of the portions of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the benchmark object comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the electronic processor is configured to calculate a temperature of the surface by subtracting the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object from the temperature measurement of the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the benchmark object intersects a boundary of the field of view of the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the benchmark object is in a corner of the field of view of the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the arrangement is included in an infotainment system or advanced driver-assistance system of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A method of sensing temperatures on a surface, the method comprising:
 positioning a thermal/infrared array sensor such that the surface is within a field of view of the thermal/infrared array sensor;   disposing a benchmark object having a known temperature within the field of view of the thermal/infrared array sensor;   receiving a signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor, the signal including a temperature measurement of the surface and a temperature measurement of the benchmark object;   calculating a difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object; and   calculating a temperature of the surface based on the temperature measurement of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor includes a plurality of temperature measurements of the surface, each of the temperature measurements corresponding to a different, respective portion of the surface, the method further comprising calculating a respective temperature of each of the portions of the surface based on the temperature measurements of the portions of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the benchmark object comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising calculating a temperature of the surface by subtracting the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object from the temperature measurement of the surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the benchmark object intersects a boundary of the field of view of the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the benchmark object is in a corner of the field of view of the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the method is performed within an infotainment system or advanced driver-assistance system of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . An infotainment system for a motor vehicle, the infotainment system comprising:
 a thermal/infrared array sensor having a field of view, the thermal/infrared array sensor being positioned such that a surface is within the field of view;   a benchmark object having a known temperature, the benchmark object being disposed within the field of view of the thermal/infrared array sensor; and   an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the thermal/infrared array sensor and configured to:
 receive a signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor, the signal including a temperature measurement of the surface and a temperature measurement of the benchmark object; 
 calculate a difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object; and 
 calculate a temperature of the surface based on the temperature measurement of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object, 
   
     
     
         16 . The infotainment system of  claim 15  wherein the signal from the thermal/infrared array sensor includes a plurality of temperature measurements of the surface, each of the temperature measurements corresponding to a different, respective portion of the surface, the electronic processor being configured to calculate a respective temperature of each of the portions of the surface based on the temperature measurements of the portions of the surface and the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object. 
     
     
         17 . The infotainment system of  claim 15  wherein the benchmark object comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         18 . The infotainment system of  claim 15  wherein the electronic processor is configured to calculate a temperature of the surface by subtracting the difference between the temperature measurement of the benchmark object and the known temperature of the benchmark object from the temperature measurement of the surface. 
     
     
         19 . The infotainment system of  claim 15  wherein the benchmark object ntersects a boundary of the field of view of the sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The infotainment system of  claim 15  wherein the benchmark object is in a corner of the field of view of the sensor.